REANIMATOR – Interview with Guitarist Julien Lefort

Canada's premier metal label, Galy Records continues to tap into its country's wealth of talent. Their recent signing, REANIMATOR consists of a group of young vigorous thrashers who are not a bit afraid of showing their love for old school thrash and classic metal. Their debut album on Galy “Thrashin' the Neighborhood” will kick you in the teeth and leave you wanting more. Considering the recent success of throwback bands like DRAGONFORCE, MUNICIPAL WASTE, and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, REANIMATOR is a group sure to go a long ways!

Reading the bio you have on your Myspace page, it says you guys first started as a hard rock cover band. How did you make the transition from being a cover band to what you are now?

It all begun when Max came with his first original song, “Black Bones,” which was influenced by 80’s thrash bands such as KREATOR, EXODUS and other Bay Area thrash metal bands. The enthusiasm of the band regarding this song led to other originals songs as the band was leaving behind the hard rock stuffs to concentrate on our thrash material.

Although Reanimator has clearly shed its hard rock cover skin, do you play any live covers of the bands that influence you guys today?

Of course! It’s the best way to pay homage to our influences! We played JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN covers, which are 2 of our great influences. We also played ANTHRAX’s “Among The Living” and “Indians” for a while.

How do you feel about releasing your first full-length, studio album “Thrashin’ the Neighborhood” on Galy Records?

Galy Records gave us a good opportunity since it gets recognition on for being the first label of bands such as DESPISED ICON, NEURAXIS and MARTYR. Not too many indie labels can offer us gigs with such bands and a worldwide promotion and distribution knowing this is our first studio album. We feel very confident about the future knowing how much Galy Records backs us.

How did you hook up with Eric Galy and his label, Galy Records?

Well the band first started back in 2005 and we shared the stage with our hometown partners of SHADES OF DUSK who were about to sign with Galy Records at that time. Our booker already knew Eric and I guess the fact that we made a great impression in most of our local shows just lead us to an eventual contract.

What was it like working with Alan Douches, who is known for mastering albums by such great bands as Nile and Mastodon?

This guy is awesome. Since he works and lives in New-York, we did all our stuffs by mailing the rough-mix, listening to samples on internet and communicating by e-mails. The process took about three months but the juice was worth the squeeze!

How did you decide Douches was the one you wanted for mastering your album?

We first thought that the overall sound of the rough-mix was quite weak, so we wanted a mastering that could give it some balls. Knowing the work of Alan Douches, we contacted him to see what he could do. [iright: reanimator03jpg]

Reanimator is a young band playing an older style of metal. How did you discover the bands that inspired your thrashin’ style, and refrain from all the bullshit that corporate labels term “metal” these days?

Most of us grew up listening to METALLICA, MEGADETH and some other 80’s bands that were still active back in our younger days. While the popularity of bands such as SLIPKNOT and LINKIN PARK was growing, we preferred the raw sound of thrash metal which led us to discover the roots and other bands of that era like KREATOR, ANTHRAX, EXODUS, just to name a few.

Speaking of your true metal style, do you think real metal, like thrash and power metal, are making a comeback?

Of course! When we check out on the internet, we’re able to hear and read about all those new bands that play heavy metal, thrash and old school hardcore crossover stuff. That means true metal is fortunately making a comeback. There are also older bands like ANTHRAX that are still touring! We’re actively trying to play our role in this comeback along with these other bands.

I see your band has played with a lot of high profile metal bands in your area. Would you please summarize some of the shows your group has played?

We had to chance to play with a lot of great bands such as GOAT HORN, RAMMER, RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER, MARTYR, NEURAXIS, FUCK THE FACTS, AUGURY, MISERY INDEX, GHOULUNATICS, DISFEAR, THINE EYES BLEED, ATHERETIC, A PERFECT MURDER… There was also that awesome gig with EXODUS in Montreal and another one with AGGRESSION that we will always keep in mind.

I saw a picture of one of your band members wearing a MUNICIPAL WASTE shirt. That photo and the band’s style make it clear that you guys are MUNICIPAL WASTE fans. MUNCIPAL WASTE is known for their crazy live shows. Does REANIMATOR put on a similar, high energy, circle pit-causing show like The Waste?

We try to keep a high amount of energy on stage during our live performances. We want the guy in back of the room to ask himself why he’s not headbanging by the stage. The shows we like the most are the ‘’no-stage’’ shows where we play on the floor in front of the crowd, getting pushed and having people spilling beer on our guitars.

What is the metal scene like in Montreal?

Well, we have all kinds of band, but the scene is very hardcore oriented. People don’t see bands like us very often, but I guess they dig us! Montreal is also home of bands such as DESPISED ICON, ION DISSONANCE and BENEATH THE MASSACRE, so I guess people follow the deathcore movement a lot these days. There are also lots of technical death metal bands. Let’s say that Montreal’s a very brutal city.

Speaking of live shows, do you have any future tour plans?

We want to be heard as much as possible so hopefully we’ll try and play in Quebec and Ontario a lot in the following months, but we’re always opened for suggestion. So please, e-mail us and we’ll come and play your town anytime!

Do you have a last word to say to your fans or upcoming fans?

Keep On Thrashing!

www.myspace.com/ReanimatorThrash